The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-11-16

"Oh, 10TH an 10TH. A little gyle
down thtairth told me all bout it. Itth
the day when nobody don't eat nofin'
but turkey"
Turkey !" echoed Frank in tragical
tones.
Turkey |" echoed Annie plaintively.
"Ycth," said Poonthie. "you'll bwing
big turkey home an we'll jus eat, an
eat, an cat till we can't eat no more. :"
Then Poonthie attacked her egg and
toast and milk again. and her parents
looked at her until something in their
eyes made them see double and then
| kept them from seeing at all.
eff only we could have turkey on
Thanksgiving Day." said Annie that
night, after Poonthie had fallen asleep.
'I'm ashamed of myself for the way my
mind has run on the subject ever since
that blessed darling mentioned it."
"I've weakness that way myself, "
Frank admitted, 'but even the smallest
turkey on Thanksgiving Day would
mean a row with the landlord on the first
of the month"
sDon't let us think any more about il" B."
said Annie. well feast royalty on
an Irish stew that won't cost twenty five
cents; it'll taste as good as turkey-ifw we
look at Poonthie while we eat it."
But the thought of Turkey would not
disappear, fer Poonthie forbade. When
ever her father came into the room she
would look up expectantly and shout:
"Did you bwino the turkcy2"
| The excuse that it was not time for
the turkey answered fairly for several
days, but both parents soon became NOR
bid on the subject. Frank tried again
and again, to find something in the
room which could be spared and sold for
the price of a small turkey, and
Annie spent wrctched day in wonder
ing whether she could muster up
courage enough to sneak into the one
pawn-brokcr's. shop in the city, and
pledge a tiny gold pin-Poonthie's
own-for money enough to buy turkey
for Poonthie sake. Bnt both were
unsuccessful, and when, the very after
noon before Thanksgiving. Poonlhie
greeted her father with the usual shout,
Frank took her in his arms and said:
cts too bad for anything, little
darling, but Papa couldn't find turkey
anywhere"
"Why," said Poonthie, with wonder
ing gaze, 9th that the way folkth get
turkeys G-juss find 'em 2"
eyes" said Frank, "that's the first
thing to do"
"My," drawled the child, as her father
dropped her so as to put his arm around
his wife, who seemed to need his atten-
tion just then. A call for Poonthie to
60 play with the 'little gyle down
thtairth," gave Frank an opportunity to
use all sorts of severe language regarding
his luck, and his foolishness in dragging
sweet woman down to poverty,
and his wickedness in bring up
an angel child like beggar's brat. 1t
also gave Annie a chance to tell her hus-
band what manly, brave, uncompiain-
ing fellow he was, and how Heaven would
appreciate him, all in good time, even if
music publishers didn't; in the end they
both felt great deal happier than if they
had been rich enough to buy whole
market full of turkeys.
Indeed they were so absorbed in each
other that hours might have passed un-
needed had not the couple been dis
turbed by some vigorous kicks at the
door. Frank turned the knob and in
staggered Poonthie, bearing in her arms
a turkey apparently as large as herself.
"Youthe thilly old papa, she painted,
after carefully seating the turkey in her
little rocking chair as if it were baby.
"You couldn't find turkey an could.
I juss athked the little gyle down
thwairth where her papa found turkey,
an she thaid down to the mahket at the
CORNER! Tho I went there and thure
enough there wath 10TH of "em."
Gracious!" exclaimed Frank, "didn't
the market man say anything to you2"
"No," said Poonthie, scornfully; che
only thaid 'watth you goin' to do wifi
that turkey2' an thaid 1.-THE only goin'
to take it to my papa. Then I coined
along, only whole lot of people coined
along behine me, an all of 'em was latin
like ev'ryin."
ga nice spectacle for child of honest
parents to be making" said Frank,
snatching his hat in one hand and Poon-
THE with the other. 81 must get it back,
with an explanation, before there's a
complaint against us for theft" :.
When he reached the sidewalk he found
himself face to face with man who re-
garded him intently. He was not the
benevolent old gentleman who, in books,
follow poor children to their homes on
holidays, but sharn-faced fellow with
his hands in his pockets.
"Your young one2" asked the man
nodding at Poonthie.
eyes, said Frank, hurrying along and
praying that the fellow might not be an
officer.
"Say," continued the man following
Frank, "Tll give you five dollar bill if
you'll come across the street and let me
have photograph taken of that child
and turkey just as they came down street
together"
Frank hesitated an instant, then he
shook his head, frowned and hurried
along.
"You needn't feel insulted," said the
man still following, cpd do it if they
were mine; I haven't seen anything so
cunning since-since the time when I
had little girl who lugged around
doll as big as herself. We buried them
in the same coffin"
Frank stopped. 'I'll do it," he said,
Elf you'll advance me enough to pay for
the turkey first, so the owner won't"--
That's all right" said the man. II
paid for it when she started out-my
hardware store is next to the market.
so as not to have the fun stopned. Why.